noun
botulism
BOT-yuul-ihz-uhm
noun
1
A severe, often life-threatening form of food poisoning caused by a toxin from bacteria that grow in improperly canned or preserved food.
"The family got botulism after eating home-canned green beans that hadn't been processed properly."
"Botulism can cause muscle paralysis if left untreated."
How to Use Botulism
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA dangerous illness caused by toxic bacteria in badly preserved food, especially home-canned goods.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with generic "food poisoning" — botulism is a specific, much more serious condition caused by a particular toxin.
Common pairings
a case of botulism
botulism poisoning
infant botulism
Word Forms
botulisms plural
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The family got _____ after eating home-canned green beans that hadn't been processed properly.
Etymology
From German Botulismus, built on Latin botulus, "sausage" — early cases were traced to spoiled sausages — plus the medical suffix "-ism."